HD Shotgun - Ammo Choices

[JCA]

Have decided on Rem 870 12Ga / 18" / 7-shot for HD. Interested in inputs on choice of HD ammo (thinking 00 Buck + slugs).
Thanks.

[vafish]

Try some of the "Tactical" or reduced recoil OO buck loads.

They usually pattern pretty well.

[Bonk]

I bought five boxes each of Federal Tactical 00 (what I use in my shotgun at work), Remington LE low-recoil 00, and Speer Lawman 00, and tested them all in my HD 590A1. They patterned nearly identically, and there weren't any malfunctions, so now I just buy whichever I can find cheapest.:thumbsup:

[GlockFish]

I like to keep my 870 loaded with Federal reduced recoil 00.
The 6 shot Side-saddle I keep Federal reduced recoil slugs.

[intheburbs]

+1 on the reduced recoil 00 buck. I keep mine loaded with gradually more powerful rounds - 00, 000, slug, magnum slug

I read this the other day (was a bit surprised), gonna try a box 'o truth type test comparing #1 and 00 buckshot:

For personal defense and law enforcement applications, the International Wound Ballistics Association advocates number 1 buckshot as being superior to all other buckshot sizes.

Number 1 buck is the smallest diameter shot that reliably and consistently penetrates more than 12 inches of standard ordnance gelatin when fired at typical shotgun engagement distances. A standard 2 �-inch 12 gauge shotshell contains 16 pellets of #1 buck. The total combined cross sectional area of the 16 pellets is 1.13 square inches. Compared to the total combined cross sectional area of the nine pellets in a standard #00 (double-aught) buck shotshell (0.77 square inches), the # 1 buck shotshell has the capacity to produce over 30 percent more potentially effective wound trauma.

In all shotshell loads, number 1 buckshot produces more potentially effective wound trauma than either #00 or #000 buck. In addition, number 1 buck is less likely to over-penetrate and exit an attacker's body.

For home defense applications a standard velocity 2 �-inch #1 buck shotshell (16 pellet payload) from Federal, Remington or Winchester is your best choice. We feel the Federal Classic 2 �-inch #1 buck load (F127) is slightly better than the same loads offered by Remington and Winchester. The Federal shotshell uses both a plastic shot cup and granulated plastic shot buffer to minimize post-ignition pellet deformation, whereas the Remington and Winchester loads do not.

Second best choice is Winchester's 2 �-inch Magnum #1 buck shotshell, which is loaded with 20 pieces of copper-plated, buffered, hardened lead #1 buckshot. For those of you who are concerned about a tight shot pattern, this shotshell will probably give you the best patterning results in number 1 buck. This load may not be a good choice for those who are recoil sensitive.

Third choice is any standard or reduced recoil 2 �-inch #00 lead buckshot load from Winchester, Remington or Federal.

http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs10.htm

[keith56]

Federal tactical 00 buck (low recoil) is my first choice.

[mb1129]

I would recommend Federal Tactical 00Buck with the Flite-Control wad. For slugs the Federal Tru-ball are good. Hope this helps.

[MrMurphy]

I've had the tightest groups with Hornady TAP, however i've been away from shotguns for a while.

If you're doing home defense, stay away from slugs. They keep going, and going, and going, and going. A tight-patterning, low recoil 00, 000 etc buckshot load is your best bet.

[Hydra-SHOKz]

Originally posted by Bonk
I bought five boxes each of Federal Tactical 00 (what I use in my shotgun at work), Remington LE low-recoil 00, and Speer Lawman 00, and tested them all in my HD 590A1. They patterned nearly identically, and there weren't any malfunctions, so now I just buy whichever I can find cheapest.:thumbsup:

I believe Speer uses Federals FLITECONTROL Wad.There pretty much the same loads as far as I can tell.The Speer is pretty much non-existant in my area.I get Federals LE132-00 here for $1.99 a box.The regular Remington stuff is over $3 a box at Academy.Federal it is.

The Hornady TAP load is a really good load.Works awesome in my FN SLP but in my 870 it will beat you to death.

My choice for slugs goes to Brenneke's tactical HD load in my 870 and their KO's for my SLP.

Does anybody know if Federal makes a 12ga. 2 3/4 #1 buck load using there FLITECONTROL wad?

[AdminJarhead]

maybe I'm just cheap but I use Winchester 3" 00 that I get for $10 per 15 shells.
I just figured that it's a 12ga, it's gonna make a big hole/ground beef out of what ever is infront of the business end. But I can see both sides.

[ElevatedThreat]

Originally posted by mb1129
I would recommend Federal Tactical 00Buck with the Flite-Control wad. For slugs the Federal Tru-ball are good. Hope this helps.

The Federal 9-pellet 00 buck load with the Flite Control wad rules. If patterns were any tighter, they would be almost too tight.

Tru-Ball slugs work well, and I like Brenneke Black Magic slugs even better. They are accurate from an un-rifled barrel, hit hard, penetrate well, and have a Molly coating that prevents leading of the bore.

-ET

[JCA]

Good inputs. Thanks for the feedback.

[SELFDEFENSE]

I would add Winchester Ranger tactical to the list

[mitchshrader]

wal mart specials. remington 2 3/4 value pack 00 buck, 50c per round.

same on the 'Slugger' slugs, 15 pack for 7.50 .

either one makes a Great HUGE hole and either one penetrates car bodywork or auto glass.

50c. been killin deer 70 years.

probably killed as many as any other loads ever. 'works'.

any range i'm gonna be shooting a shotgun in the first place, those two loads make things dead.

if you don't want a pattern shoot slugs, if you do shoot 00 buckshot. it ain't a bird you're worried about. it's a bad boy with a big belly and a heavy coat, and he might be inside his car shooting out.

INSIDE the house, personally, any mid power handgun you shoot very well and heavy bullets, subsonic ammo and night sights.

to step out the front door with a shotgun i want a tool that's adequate, but in the house it's overkill, clumsy, and VERY hard to justify as first pick.

i keep five slugs in mine and it's 4th or 5th down on the list of useful SD/HD guns. a purpose built pistol grip laser sighted HD gun, i'd say go with the reduced recoil..

but i'd never want that gun in the first place unless i lived in a warehouse and had to guard it.